Bicycle riding is fun and a great source of cardiovascular exercise, but sharing the road with automobiles requires caution. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 500,000 people in the U.S. are treated for bicycle-related accidents yearly; more than 700 die from their injuries. Bicycle Safe notes that it is often difficult for motorists to see cyclists; many times, they aren't expecting you to be there. By practicing vigilance, riding defensively and making yourself visible to motorists, you can reduce the risk of accidents.
Safety Guidelines for Equipment And Clothing
You should wear a helmet and fluorescent or very bright colored clothing accented with reflective tape. Your bicycle should be equipped with a handlebar mirror, a bell or a horn, and a front headlight. According to Bicycle Safe, a helmet-mounted headlight is an excellent alternative; using the light even in daytime will increase your visibility. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration recommends regularly checking your brakes, keeping tires properly inflated and assessing your bike for safety. Standing over your bike, check the distance between you and the top bar; there should be 1 to 2 inches clearance for a road bike, and 3 to 4 for a mountain bike. The seat should be level from front to back, the handlebars level with the seat, and the seat height set to allow a slight bend at the knee when legs are fully extended.
General Safety Rules
Always ride to the right, in the same direction as other vehicles. According to Bicycling Life, nearly one-fourth of all crashes involve cyclists riding the wrong way. Obey all traffic signals, and use hand signals to alert drivers of your intentions. Be alert for fallen leaves -- which can be slippery -- potholes, rocks, puddles, broken glass, ice and dogs running loose. Watch for cars pulling out of driveways, and pay attention to parked cars; Bicycle Safe says they may unexpectedly reverse, pull out or swing a door open. When stopping to the right of a car at a red light, take care not to stop in the blind spot; stop behind the car.
Safety of Street Vs. Sidewalks
Ride in the roadway. Bicycle Safe asserts that riding on the sidewalk is twice as dangerous as cycling on the street, and -- in addition to endangering pedestrians on the sidewalk -- may even be illegal in some areas. However, children younger than 10 years old must use the sidewalk. The exception to the rule is sidewalks that have few cross streets and are relatively free of driveways and pedestrians. Use your bell or horn, or call out "excuse me," or "passing on your left" when approaching pedestrians from behind. Make sure to come to a full stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look carefully for oncoming or turning drivers, and make sure drivers see you before proceeding into the street.
Hand Signals
The three hand signals you should use when biking are simple, but can be very effective in alerting motorists to your intentions. According to Bike Miami Valley, you should use your left hand to signal. Extend your arm straight out from your body at your side to indicate a left turn; for a right turn, hold your arm bent at the elbow at a 90-degree angle, with your hand pointing towards the sky and your forearm perpendicular to the ground. To signal a stop, the signal is turned upside down. Your arm is flexed at a 90-degree angle and your hand points toward the ground.
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